Sajid Javid has promised those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire that a taskforce brought in after public outrage over the response to the disaster will be in place for "however long is necessary".

In a letter to residents, penned nearly six weeks after at least 80 people died when the fire ripped through the 24-storey London tower block, the Communities and Local Government Secretary wrote: "I envisage them to be in place for however long is necessary to get the job done - in reality, this is likely to mean for at least one year."

The letter was available at a lively public meeting, held within the shadow of the burned-out block in north Kensington, where residents could question key figures in the response team.

Grenfell Tower

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The recovery taskforce would be based in the offices of Kensington and Chelsea Council and charged with "making sure the council is able to deal with the longer-term recovery work," according to Mr Javid.

He added they would "report directly to me and be independent of the council itself".

Grenfell Tower in west London after a fire engulfed the 24-storey building (Image: Rick Findler/PA Wire)

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The outside experts on the taskforce include Aftab Chughtai, who is the chair of the West Midlands Police Independent Advisory Group, Barnardo's chief executive Javed Khan, Wiltshire Council leader Jane Scott and Chris Wood, who is a former director of housing for three London boroughs.

Mr Javid said services which are currently being managed by the Grenfell Response team, in a joint effort with people from across London's councils, government and voluntary sector, will be picked up by "gradually" by the much-criticised local Kensington and Chelsea Council.